8 new HIV cases in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – Eight new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in the vacation capital this year bringing the total of cases in the city to 59 cases since 1992.

Based on the HIV-AIDS registry provided by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, head of the Baguio Health Department social hygiene clinic, six of the new HIV cases were men having sex with men (MSM) and two were males.

The number of recorded cases this year is six higher compared to 2012.

Brillantes said that it was the second time that the city recorded eight cases in a year. The year that the city recorded eight HIV cases was in 2011, she said.

In 2004 and 2010,  Baguio had six cases each, five cases in 2009, four in 2006 and three each in 1997 and 2005.

For the rest of years since 1992, the city had only one to two cases.

City epidemiology experts said that the ages of the 59 patients range from 17 to 45 years. Of the said number, 18 have died.

Majority of the patients are males (44) and only 15 are females.

The city health office said that 22 of the cases were males who had sex with males, 18 are overseas Filipino workers, five were blood donors, four were sexually active females, five were sexually active males, three are wives of pesons afflicted with the disease and two are foreigners.